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This sort of nullification, I'm sure would be very comforting for the drunk driver who has killed or hurt someone. Or is comforting for anyone who has regrets. "It's all a dream, it's all a dream, none of this is real..."

"Not the best analogy, imo. The shadows are still shadows. Nothing has changed about them. They still exist in exactly the same way they did before. And if they leave the cave, that's a totally different scenario. No one is leaving our shared objective reality such that qualia are abstractions which are inherently unreal. Maybe-maybe one could talk about dreams, and dreaming. But the bed still exists even if the person is under full anesthesia just as it does when they are awake. Nothing has changed about the bed during the dream state. " I think I explained my position with the television and camera analogy above. What we see is not actual reality, but an abstraction of it. If we viewed actual reality it would not be possible to have a hallucination. The reality we inhabit and actually see is a holodeck, and it may or may not represent what is actually happening outside of us. In the image below a little man (homunculus) and he watches a projector inside a skull. Imagine there is no little man, but rather a feedback loop of neural networks which observe themselves and in doing so create a holodeck like virtual experience composed purely of energy and information, which is what you are currently experiencing.

I think I understand your position. It's below: I simply disagree with this. This ^^ . I agree with this. My assertion from my previous post restated using these terms would be: experience =/= qualia. experience is a sensation which results from qualia. If I am on DMT and somehow go walk around, I'm still going to be tripping over stuff and walking into walls even if I do not have any visual or physical sensations of their presence. The intoxication fades; I will have bumps and bruises. If what you're saying is true, there would be no deaths from drunk drivers. This ^^ . I basically, mostly, agree with this. But would replace crude with material. Or maybe coarse. Perhaps hollow. And only if when you say 'see' you're describing what most consider the physical senses. If I understand, though, that would mean: "In reality there is no such thing as color, shape, texture, smell, sound, or any of that." is false. Not the best analogy, imo. The shadows are still shadows. Nothing has changed about them. They still exist in exactly the same way they did before. And if they leave the cave, that's a totally different scenario. No one is leaving our shared objective reality such that qualia are abstractions which are inherently unreal. Maybe-maybe one could talk about dreams, and dreaming. But the bed still exists even if the person is under full anesthesia just as it does when they are awake. Nothing has changed about the bed during the dream state.

You have two feet firmly planted in the tik tok world. Not a bad place to be. Logical, well adapted to our reality here. Yet..as I've traveled and met people. One of my feet, a few toes are a little across the line of tik tok into.. a realm of other possibilities; of dimensionality and coincidences we don't normally see. Other people's experiences and stories have convinced me enough that I put the unknown into an 'I don't know, maybe' category. Stuff that's above my paygrade, but I'm willing to drop my skepticism and listen. Pretty much the top of every field of human endeavour has individuals performing things mentally, physically that are impossible for me. With training I can get better but I'll never touch the level of of these one in a million individuals. Could be the same in the spiritual field. People of great natural talent planted in the right spot to get the right training. People like wise funny head monk Ajahn Brahms, who has tons of informative dharma talks. Highly respected meditation teacher; a few of his teaching include seeing the Thai forest through other eyes and fantastic otherworldly creatures there. Rabbi David Cooper writes about being a meditation hall and seeing a little guy dancing on a lecturer's shoulder and asking a fellow student there, 'You see that?' and they say, yeah, looks like Leprechaun, right?' There's no profit for a rabbi admitting he saw a leprechaun, nothing to do with his heritage or teaching, quite the opposite, yet that's what he wrote. Michael Winn talks about a dream flight school where students would gather in dreams to learn how to dream fly. Rawn Clark talked about meeting up with other advanced Hermetics during dream time for discussion and later on the phone to verify. At Yoga ashrams I've listened to top yogi's explain that the Hindu gods are real. The prayers and chants are methods for talking to them as surely as he talking to us, but it takes dedication and heart. Same as Taoists.. get hardcore enough and see and get guidance from spirits etc., Is it real? Maybe.. certainly above my payscale, but sometimes we get surprise checks in the mail. In the meantime, every now and then looking at Life as Dream, yields perspective and wisdom that I find useful And the tik tok world is a little boring. To keep a foot, an ear or an eye open for that other reality can make us live a better, more open in this one. Though I am admittedly a slacker who holds some skepticism and their wallet.

Maybe the Greek island of Santorini? "The beaches of Santorini are unlike most other beaches in Greece due to their special geological features. Black and red volcanic pebbles cover the shores of the beaches with a backdrop of magnificent white cliffs. This lovely peaceful island is one of the most romantic destinations in the Mediterranean. Couples from all over the world honeymoon here because the sunsets are so incredibly spectacular, and along with the scenery exquisite, the air is filled with the fragrant scent of herbs and flowers. Oh and for cat lovers, it’s a dream come true! Santorini is home to an unbelievable number of stray cats much like the famous Japanese ‘cat island’ of Tashirojima. The island is awash with blue domed Byzantine churches rounding off white villages that look they have been painted by cubist architects then decorated with bougainvillea and cats. It’s a place to enjoy freshly caught fish and local wine by the water’s edge, as the local Orthodox priest chats with villagers while cats rub against your legs looking for tit-bits. It was once said of these cats, that during their catnaps they dream of the days when they were worshipped by the ancient Egyptians and didn’t have to rely on the kindness of strangers for food." The Cats of Santorini Island I guess the photos depicted in that link are of similar quality to those in your book.

Maybe the Greek island of Santorini? "The beaches of Santorini are unlike most other beaches in Greece due to their special geological features. Black and red volcanic pebbles cover the shores of the beaches with a backdrop of magnificent white cliffs. This lovely peaceful island is one of the most romantic destinations in the Mediterranean. Couples from all over the world honeymoon here because the sunsets are so incredibly spectacular, and along with the scenery exquisite, the air is filled with the fragrant scent of herbs and flowers. Oh and for cat lovers, it’s a dream come true! Santorini is home to an unbelievable number of stray cats much like the famous Japanese ‘cat island’ of Tashirojima. The island is awash with blue domed Byzantine churches rounding off white villages that look they have been painted by cubist architects then decorated with bougainvillea and cats. It’s a place to enjoy freshly caught fish and local wine by the water’s edge, as the local Orthodox priest chats with villagers while cats rub against your legs looking for tit-bits. It was once said of these cats, that during their catnaps they dream of the days when they were worshipped by the ancient Egyptians and didn’t have to rely on the kindness of strangers for food." The Cats of Santorini Island I guess the photos of in that link are of similar quality to those in your book. Santorini is one place I'll travel to for sure!

For many people, lucid dreaming and astral projection are a good way to get in touch with psychic powers. Space trips are my favourites! 🙂 To illustrate, I once found myself on a planet which (in my very real-feeling dream) I understood was orbiting a red dwarf that was in turn circling our Sun at a distance of over one light year. I remember looking at this planet's crimson star hovering in the sky from some kind of elevator platform. As I typically experience during such trips, I felt incredibly centered, and focussed in my lower dantian -- far beyond what I have achieved in my waking life so far. In this particular case, the sensation may have been further amplified by the artificial gravity field of the elevator platform, though. Standing on it, I was travelling through a system of looping tubes that interconnected the cities and tall buildings on the surface of the planet -- without me ever loosing the sensation of being upright! Years later I learnt that Nibiru expert Andy Lloyd assumes this legendary planet to orbit a binary to our Sun. https://darkstar1.co.uk/ The theory of a red or brown dwarf star circling our Sun was actually quite popular with astronomers in the last century. It was called 'Dark Star' and 'Nemesis'. While no longer predominant, this theory still finds support by a number of scientists. Here you see my approximate artistic rendition of the city I saw in my dream (creating digital art being one of my various interests).

PLAY : The Raven‭’‬s Tale. Cast : The Orator. The Raven. A Nymph. The Centaur. A Prattling Crow. Apollo. Corona. Three Magpies. The Gods. The Hydra Prolouge. [Curtain (black) drawn closed . The Orator is to the right side of stage , dimly lit by a spot from top leftof stage . ] Orator ; “ ‭Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting - ‭`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken‭! Leave my‭ ‬loneliness unbroken‭! ‬-‭ ‬quit the bust above my door‭! Take thy beak from out my heart,‭ ‬and take thy form from off my door‭!' Quoth the raven,‭ `‬Nevermore.‭ “‬ [Spot out - darkness . Orator exists . ] Scene 1. The Raven. [ Lights up. A Nymph walks across the stage holding a large sign with ‘The Raven’ written on it and the image of a raven . The stage curtain is drawn and background 1. ( appropriate star map with constellations and animals ; Corvus/raven sitting on top of Hydra/serpent and Crater / cup next to him and centaur nearby to the left ) is revealed . Before it sit The Raven and The Centaur in appropriate places . ] The Orator ( voice over ) : “ Once upon a time a raven was circling around the southern heavens,‭ ‬looking rather depressed .‭ ‬A voice addressed him‭; “. ‭The Centaur; “Why so glum Brother Raven?” ‭[The Raven turns to look and there amongst the stars is a man with lance and the body of a horse. ] ‭The Raven; “ Well, it wasn’t always like this you know. Things used to be quiet good but then there were some complications with my boss’s girlfriend and that business with that big cup there and this troublesome sea serpent creature / monster thing, to whom, I now seem firmly attached.” ‭He indicates the constellations of Crater, The Cup and Hydra . ‭[ Raven flapps and flutters his wings but he can not seem to separate himself from the Hydra nor move through the stars] Centaur; ‭“Well, we all have our issues. Tell me about yours?” ‭Raven : “Issues? I don’t have issues! I am just there and things happen to me … it doesn’t have ANYTHING to do with me! I am purely a victim of circumstances.” Centaur; ( He smiles) ‭ “ Dear R‬aven‭ ! ‬Is there any such thing‭? ‬I doubt it,‭ ‬for we all play a part in the events that unfold around us.‭ ‬Well then,‭ ‬tell me what happened and we will see if we can work out a solution to your dilemma together.‭” ‭Raven ; “Very well. It all started back when I was with my master , Apollo. He bid me observe the affairs of gods and men and report back to him, that being my duty, ordained by Zeus, how could I refuse it? The same as I could not refuse my other duty, to disperse amongst men the prophesies of my master Apollo so men may know the will of Zeus. All went well until that business with the woman. ‭“ One day when pulling Helios across the sky in his chariot Apollo saw the Princess Corona of Larissa, the fairest maid of all Aemonia. Apollo courted Corona and things seemed good. Apollo was happy with her and she was known to have a ‘grateful charm’, to be a joy to him and faithful in love … while none defamed her chastity. ‭“But, unfortunately for me, one day I observed from high perch, that very same Corona laying in a field with a lad … who was certainly NOT Apollo. Being faithful to my master’s charge, I immediately leapt from my perch, spread out my white wings and beat them as fast as I could to propel myself home to my master’s abode and repot to him this new development. ‭“But a crow followed me. A noisy busy-body prattling crow, curious of my alarm and quick flight and what it was I observed. After me, the prattling Crow followed with flapping wings, eager to learn what caused this Raven's haste .....“ ‭[Outer black curtain closes ] ‭Scene 2. A Prattling Crow . ‭[ The Nymph walks along the stage with a sign, text and picture ' A Prattling Crow’. Curtain opens to reveal backdrop 2. - sky, with clouds passing by .] ‭Raven ; ( enters from stage right - now he has white plumage - winging his way through the sky.) ‭Crow; ( Enters stage right following him.) ‭Raven; (spots Crow, gets annoyed and flapps faster, but Crow catches up.) ‭Crow; , “ Tell not what you have seen Brother Raven ! I saw you observing in that tree, but although you think you are fulfillling your master’s charge and being loyal , take heed of my story ! “ A long time ago,‭ ‬the god Vulcan fathered a son,‭ ‬Erichthonius,‭ ‬under strange circumstances.‭ ‬He tried to rape Minerva but didn't succeed.‭ ‬Instead,‭ ‬his seed fell down to earth‭; ‬from where it landed,‭ ‬up sprang Erichthonius.‭ ‬Minerva seemed to want to cover the whole thing up,‭ ‬so she hid the child in a basket.‭ ‬She then made this basket the responsibility of the three‭ ‬daughters of Cecrops,‭ ‬an ancient king of Athens.‭ ‬Then she made them swear never to look inside it. ‭“ Two of the daughters, Pandrosos and Herse, obeyed the goddess, but the third, Aglauros, peeked inside – and a saw a baby with a serpent curled up beside him. Then I went to Minerva and tattled on Aglauros for peeking . Minerva was so displeased that she took it out on me ! I was just the messenger of a wrongdoing but she forbade me to be her special bird any longer; from that point on, her friends have been owls and I have been ignored. Beware Raven that the same fate awaits you.” Raven ; “ Out of my way Crow! I must do my duty and report to my Master.” ‭Crow; “ Well, you might think that I never was Minerva's special bird in the first place. Harumph ! If you do, you're wrong. To prove it, I will tell you a second story. A long time ago, I used to be a beautiful princess, with many suitors. But then, one day, while I was walking along the beach, the god of the Ocean saw me and became amorous. But I wanted nothing to do with him. ‭“ He pursued me, so I prayed to the gods for help. The only one who listened was Minerva, herself a virgin, who transformed me into a crow. This is how I became Minerva's bird. But now I have been disowned and the owl has taken my place , who also used to be a Princess, although nowhere near as fair as I and whose morals are poorly lacking - the little tart!’ Raven ; “ Oh you who talk too much ! A mischief fall upon your prating head for this detention of my flight.‭ ‬Your words and warnings I despise. “ I shall do my duty in haste, despite thy warnings to inform my patron Apollo how I saw the fair Corona with a lad of Thessaly ! “ [Raven flies off leaving the Crow behind and exists stage left . The outer curtain is drawn ] Act 4 - The ‘Beautiful’ Apollo. [The Nymph walks across the stage with sign with text and image ‘The ‘Beautiful’ Appollo’. The outer curtain is drawn back . ] Scene ; Apollo’s Temple . Apollo is on his throne playing his harp and singing . Raven enters . ] Raven ; (short of breath ) “ My Lord Apollo , I have news ... bad news I fear . But is it not your charge that I watch the affairs of men and report back to you on their behaviour ... and in turn I relay your decrees and orders to mankind ? “ Apollo : “ Indeed my bird, it is. Speak ! “ Raven : “ I saw fair Corona lying in yonder field with a Lad of Thessaly . “ Apollo ; ( he drops his plectrum ): “ When was this ? “ Raven “ Just then ... well, some time ago, I flew here as fast as I could but I was delayed by a prattling crow . “ Apollo ; “ And where is Corona now ? “ Raven ; “ I dont know . “ Apollo ; “Send my guards to bring her here ! “ [Apollo sets down his harp, he paces, he fiddles, he attends to his bow, he paces with an arrow in hand striking his thigh as he walks . Raven looks nervous. Corona enters. ] Corona : “My Lord ? “ Apollo : “ Ahhh , my loyal Corona , my love ? “ ( he takes up his harp and starts strumming it ) “My bird , this Raven, tells me a fantastic tale , and you must tell me that it isnt true .... and then I shall deal with him later . He seems to think he saw you laying in a nearby field with a lad of Thessaly . Explain to me why he is suddenly lying to me ? “ Corona ; ( totally taken aback) “ Oh ! I .... I ..... well ...... “ Apollo ( angry ) “ It’s true ? ! “ Corona : ( slumps in resignation ) “ Yes. “ Apollo ; (raging , he drops the harp, he contorts, he looks insane , he takes up his bow, notches an arrow and fires at Corona , it pierces her breast . ) .Corona ; ( slumps , pause, she stirs, removes the shaft moaning ) “Ah,‭ ‬Apollo‭! ‬punishment is justly mine‭!‬ But wherefore didst thou not await the hour of birth‭? ‬For by my death an innocent is slain. For I am with child . . . your child .” ‭ (she dies ) ‭ Raven ; (crouches down and covers his head with his wings .) ‭[Outer curtain is drawn closed ] ‭[ pause .... outer curtain is opened ] ‭Scene 6 ( back drop back to no 1 , Raven ( black plumage ) and Centaur ) ‭Raven (sad) : “ This said, her soul expired with her life-blood, and death congealed her drooping form. .We stood there frozen at the horror. Sadly the love-lore God did repent his jealous deed; regret too late his ready credence to this Raven's tale. Mourning his thoughtless deed and blaming myself, he vents his rage upon this very bird; he hates his bow, the string, his own right hand, the fateful arrow, anything but himself and his own jealous rage.” ‭“As a last resource, and thus to overcome her destiny, he strove to cherish her beloved form; for vain were all his medicinal arts. But when he saw upraised the funeral pyre, where wreathed in flames her body should be burnt, the sorrow of his heart welled forth in sighs; but tearless orbed, for no celestial face may tide of woe bedew. ‭“Yet, after Apollo poured the fragrant myrrh, sweet perfumes on her breast, that now once more against his own he pressed, and after all the prematurely hastened rites were done, he would not suffer the offspring of his loins to mingle with her ashes, but he plucked from out the flames, forth from the mother's thighs his child, unborn, and carried to the cave of double-natured Chiron - a relative of yours I believe.” ‭[The Centaur nods .] ‭Raven ; “Then to him he called this foolish truthful Raven, high in hopes of large requital due for all his words; but, angry with my meddling ways. He frothed, he fumed and turned red. He burst forth fire that filled the temple and I , caught up in the conflagration had my pearly plumes engulfed. So fierce was the fire of his own guilt and shame expelled forth, my very beautiful plumage was scorched and turned from pearly white to deep dark black and he forbade me forever more to perch among the favoured birds whose plumes are white. ‭“ And then, to add insult to injury he spoke: ‭‘Wanton babbler! see thy fate ! ‭Messenger of mine no longer, Go to Hades with thy prate‭! ‭Weary Pluto with thy tattle! Hither,‭ ‬monster,‭ ‬come not back‭; ‭And — to match thy disposition — Henceforth be thy plumage black‭ !‬’ “Much concerned I hurriedly departed his presence and flew up into the highest branch of the highest tree and hid myself within the leaves and shadows‭ ‬until his blood and temper cooled.‭” [Three Magpies fly in and alight along a string of nearby stars.] ‭Centaur ; “Your story attracts others that long to hear,” ‭Raven : “ “It is the Chorus, every time this story is told they insist, very annoyingly , in my opinion, to sing in sweet melody and rhyme their version of the events told.” ‭Magpie 1 ; “Complaining Raven! This is a Holy event which we must always commemorate. The God's most holy presence asks the hymn, the solemn hymn, the hymn of agony, lest, in the air of glory that surrounds the child of Semele, we lose the earth and corporal presence of the Zeus-begot.” Magpie‭ ‬2:‭ “‬Yea,‭ ‬sisters,‭ ‬raise your voices.‭ ‭Magpie 3: “Aye - we sing.” ‭All Magpies: “Hail, child of Semele! To her as unto thee Be reverence,‭ ‬be deity,‭ ‬be immortality‭!” ‭Magpie 1; “Shame! treachery of the spouse Of the Olympian house, Hera‭! ‬thy grim device against the sweet carouse‭!” ‭Magpie 2; “ Lo! ~ in red roar and flame Did Zeus descend‭! ‬What claim To feel the immortal fire had then the Theban dame‭! ‭Magpie 3; “Caught in that fiery wave; Her love and life she gave With one last kissing cry the unborn child to save. “ Magpie 1; “And thou,‭ ‬O Zeus,‭ ‬the sire Of Bromius--hunter dire‭!‬-- Didst snatch the unborn babe from that Olympian fire: “ Magpie‭ 2; “‬In thine own thigh most holy That offspring melancholy Didst hide,‭ ‬didst feed,‭ ‬on light,‭ ‬ambrosia,‭ ‬and moly.” Magpie‭ 3‬:‭ “‬Aye‭! ‬and with serpent hair And limbs divinely fair Didst thou,‭ ‬Dionysus,‭ ‬leap forth to the nectar air‭!” ‭Magpie 1 ; “Ay! thus the dreams of fate We dare commemorate, Twining in lovesome curls the spoil of mate and mate.” Magpie2:‭ “‬O Dionysus,‭ ‬hear‭! ‭Be close, be quick, be near, Whispering enchanted words in every curving ear‭!” ‭Magpie 3; “ O Dionysus, start As the Apollonian dart‭! ‭Bury thy horned head ... “ ‭ All Magpies : “ Iiiiiinn ‭Ev – eeeeery bleed - innnnng heeeeaaaart!” ‭Raven ( to Centaur ); “They always go for a big finish. Now, If I may continue?” ‭[The Magpies fly off. The outer curtain closes ] ‭Scene 6 - The Banquet of the Gods. ‭Nymph ; ( as above etc . ) ‭[The outer curtain opens . Temple of Appollo - The Gods are seated at a banquet table, feasting and talking . ] ‭Raven; ( Voice over ) “ After much time passed and grief was done and Gods and men passed on to other things Apollo deemed it was time to give thanks for better fortune and arranged to give a feast to Jupiter and requiring the best water, finally spoke unto me.” Apollo : ( picks up his cup and goes to drink, but sees it is empty ) “ Where is my bird , that chattering Raven ? “ Raven ; ( flys in and lands next to Apollo ) ‭Apollo ; “Raven, go, my bird, so that naught may delay the pious rites, and bring a little water from fair and running springs. Catch up my sacred gilded bowl in thy hooked claws and fly aloft on an airy journey to far Lerna where lies the the Alcyonian Lake. And make sure to return swiftly so the Gods may not be parched - especially me ... as I plan to sing later . “ ‭[ outer curtain closes ] ‭Scene whatever it is - The Hydra ! ‭Nymph ... as before . ‭[Outer curtain opens - Back drop 1 Raven and Centaur ] ‭Raven ; “Upon my aerial approach I noticed the most bright and sparkling body of water and alighted upon a nearby tree to rest before I filled the cup. I noticed a beautiful sweet aroma filled the air. Looking about I saw the tree was laden with the largest, juiciest, purple figs I have seen, their juice overflowed from around their stem and had run down the fruit and dried in a crystalline coating of fig sugar. Of course I tried one . And then another. It wasn’t that they were so good, but being on a Holy mission, I realised I must have my strength for the journey back, carrying the filled cup. So I set the cup down and ate some more … and some more. “ ‭“ After some time, when I could not eat any more and my stomach was greatly distended, I realised flight with the full cup may be impeded, so, with no desire but to fulfil my duty most efficiently, and because I was now tired and drowsy, I went to sleep within the branches of that shady tree.” ‭[ Curtain closes ] ‭Act ? ‭[Curtain opens ] ‭Scene [ - The Alchonian Lake . ; there is a pool of water and a near by fig tree with Raven sleeping in it . On the ground nearby is the cup. The Sun is in the sky, stage right . The Sun moves across the sky . ] ‭Raven ; (awakes startled. He has a fat belly and smeared figs on his face . He looks at the Sun, in a panic he snatches up the cup and goes to the pool . he dips the cup in) . ‭The Hydra arises out of the pool ] ‭Hydra; “ Raven, why do you take this precious water?’ ‭Raven ; “ Do not distract me - You of many heads. Return to the depths of your pool while I go about my sacred charge. You are delaying me, would you let the Gods go thirsty ? “ Hydra; “ You have your duties but I have mine , and it is to guard this precious water . If you have good reason to take it , as you say ' for the Gods’ , then show me your warrent . “ Raven ; “ I dont have to answer to you ! “ [Raven fills the cup but Hydra grabs it , they are both pulling it, and start figting , hissing and squarking and hitting each other [outer curtain closes ] ............................ Scene ... The Curse Nymph ..... [outer curtain opens , backdrop The Banquet of the Gods - they look irritated and cranky , some try to converese but have dry throats, they cough , etc . ‭Raven; flies in holding the cup and dragging along the Hydra who is holding the other handle of the cup. Raven deposits them on the floor in front of Apollo ] ‭Apollo ; ( bellowing ) ‘What is this? Has my bird let me down again? Why did you take so long and thus allow the gods to go thirsty?’ ‭Raven : ( laments) “ O Great Apollo please forgive me … I would have returned much sooner, but as I went to take the water from the sweetest spring of all, this water monster arose from the depths and challenged me to my purpose. I informed her I was on a mission from you, but she blocked my way , I fought bravely against her for a great length of time, she seized the sacred cup and would not let go, so I had to bring her here thus attached.” ‭ Apollo ; ( stands up and walkes around the banquet to confront Raven ) “ Is that so? And this is the truth? “ Raven ; “‭Yes it is.” ‭Apollo : ( casually ) “ Why then my good and faithful Raven .... … if it is true, why, tell me then … ( he thunders ) do you have SUCH A FAT BELLY AND FIGS SMEARED ALL OVER YOUR BEAK AND RUNNING DOWN YOUR CHEST ? “ ‭[Raven flutters nervously ] ‭Apollo ; “ That is no water monster, that is Hera’s Hydra , the worst she has ever done is to go out onto the flat-land to raid the flocks. “‭I am impatient once again of your prattle and will have no more of any of this ! You have made the Gods throats dry and it has become hard to converse, so from now on you will have a dry throat! I command you to sing no more and instead only produce a dry croak to remind you of what you have done! By your lies you dare attempt to cheat the God of Prophecy by fibs? “ ‭Raven ; ( He goes to speak but only coaks and squarks come out , he is shocked and holds his thoat , tries again, but more of the same ) ‭Apollo : “ And stop that damn squarking .... I have had enough of you .... ALL OF YOU ! ( he grabs the cup and hurls it up into the stars , he grabs Raven in one hand and Hydra in the other and commences to hurl them up too ) . ‭[ outer curtain closes ] ‭Scene The Vision ‭Nymph .... ‭[outer curtain opens , backdrop 1 . Raven and Centaur ] ‭Raven ; “And with that, he grabbed all three of us, myself that Cup there and this Hydra under my feet and flung us up mightily into the sky and stars, to where we remain fixed unto this day. I am forever thirsty but the cup is just out of reach over there ...” ‭(Raven flapps and flutters his wings but still he remains stuck to the Hydra and none of them moved through the stars, nor towards the cup.) Centaur ; “I see. And you see this as misfortune‭?” ‭Raven : “ Of course! You do not?” ‭Centaur ; “Well I can see it another way.” ‭Raven : “ Please go on and explain then . I am more than willing to release myself of my entrapments and ill-fortune.” ‭Centaur ; “Very well. First you must realise there is another level of story behind all the things that befall us, for we are, not just fixed amongst the stars, but are the patterns of the very stars themselves and this great pattern represents, not just life and events on earth but the very nature of Man’s own soul or Psyche, as represented by our sister of the same name, in truth, we are all parts of her story. I am an important part in that, as are you. ‭“ Remember earlier when you said that his child, unborn, was carried to the cave of double-natured Chiron - ‘a relative of yours I believe.’ ? Well, I said yes, not wanting to interrupt your narative , but actually, I am that one and the same Chiron . Part of my duty has been to teach men how to read the stories in the stars. Also I hold the position of King of the Centaurs , they are a simple lot, but the Gods revered my intelligence , so much so that I have been the mentor of that child ... and of Hercules and some notable others . “ ‭Raven : “ Really ! The Great Hero Hercules ! And you where his mentor ? “ ‭Chiron ; “ Of which I am rather ashamed to mention , what a failure ! But that is another story, suffuce it to say , I too owe my position to his blunders .” ‭Raven; “ Well, you must tell me how that happened . “ ‭Chiron; “ One of my centaurs , Pholous who was friends with Hercules invited him to to his home for dinner . When Pholous was not looking Hercules helped himself to some sacred centaur wine , made only for centuars. When he returned he was horrified ! There Hercules sat with the bottle open, drinking it . Well, the secent had drifted out and reached the other centaurs. Furious, they grabbed weapons and charged at Pholou’s house. Hercules came out firing his bow and killing many of my centaurs . Hearing the commotion I ran outside to stop the fight but was grazed on the knee by one of Hercules’ arrows , unfortuanetly , one that had been dipped in the blood of the Hydra. Being imortal, back then, I could not die and was doomed to live on in great pain. It was so bad I asked Zeuss to kill me to end my pain , and he obliged . So here I am , in the world beyond death . ‭“ But do not give yourself lack of importance for your part is, perhaps more crucial, than you realise.” Raven ; “How is that‭?”‬ Centaur : ‭“By analogy and symbol dear Raven. For example you lament about your loss of colour from pearly white to deep dark black … even blue black if I may add. Have you not noticed that it is the very colour of space itself? Have you not noticed that white reflects light, hence finds difficulty in absorbing it. While black absorbs light by not reflecting it. By being black you are absorbing the light, and light is good, warm and gives life and illumination. “ ‭Raven ; “ I see. You do seem wise in your observations, so what is your function in the psyche of Man?” Centaur ; “ To interpret symbols, as I said , I teach men how to read the stars. But the affairs of the Gods, as well as the movement and arrangement of the stars are also for Man’s learning. In that we both play a part . Also my path is about healing, esecially the deep healing of a wound . Actually, they are both the same thing .” Raven : “ What are both the same thing ?” Centaur ; “ Healing and understanding the movement of the stars and the affairs of the Gods , which Man calls ‘myth’..... they all come together to heal the psyche of Man .” ‭“Let us move on to the feast for Jupiter and see if we can unfold more of your purpose and hence your illumination.” ‭Raven ; “Very well.” Centaur ; “ ‭Firstly the spring and pool is deep water, that is a symbol of the Psyche, the deep soul of man, of which he only perceives the surface. ‭“Deep within lies the many headed Hydra, which at times, can have one head and at other times many heads. It is the same thing, do not be confused, in the world of Psyche, things can be one thing and many things at the same time. Mostly men are not aware of Hydra, but occasionally she surfaces as her duty IS to protect the cared for sacred spring from those who are not ready nor worthy to receive its waters.” ‭Raven ; “But if the pool or lake or deep water IS Man’s psyche, then Hydra being a part of that is part of Man’s psyche or soul and resides within ?” Centaur ; ‭“That is exactly right. And what might that part be? What is like a snake in the Soul of Man that reaches up its head through the Spheres of Heaven to the Vast Empyrean? Yet, when Man thinks he is suffering it persecutes him on the Cross of the Elements? “ ‭Raven ; “ I know not.” Centaur ; ‭“Come now Raven, you seek water, do you not? Do you not realise this burning thirst in your throat is not for mere physical water? For what you thirst and what you seek and what is contained within the Sacred Cup is the Water of Life, and to drink from it is to gain knowledge of the soul. That is your function! To drive Man along , to seek the sacred wisdom and to gain knowledge of the soul, by observing the acts and lives of the Gods and their companions … which Man calls ‘myth’.” ‭ Raven ; “I see ...... Does not man have a force inside him that is curled up and sleeping in water, and due to certain circumstances, may arise and ascend, returning through the vast spheres which gave his incarnation form when previously descending FROM that original source and this, like a rearing serpent may return and pierce the veil into that very Empyrean?” ‭Centaur; “Yes, that is so … and tell me, how Raven, did you come to that knowledge?” ‭Raven ; “Well , it is still my duty to watch - the ravens on Earth do that for me and still report to me. Some time back one of them delivered unto me a strange document and in it, it had a diagram … I will show it to you.” ‭[ Raven produces a sheet of parchment from beneath his wing, but as he unrolls it The Magpies fly in and alight again in a row upon a string of stars.] ‭Raven ; “Oh, not again! What now ? ‘ ‭Magpie 1 ; “Peace be upon you Brother Raven, we portend sacred events, hear out our Chorus if you would learn.” ‭ Magpie 2 : “Lift up this love of peace and bliss, The starry soul of wine, Destruction's formidable kiss, The lamp of the divine: This shadow of a nobler name Whose life is strife,‭ ‬whose soul is fame‭!” ‭Magpie 3: “ I rather will exalt the soul Of man to loftier height, And kindle at a livelier coal The subtler soul of light. From these soft splendours of a dream turn! ‭ ‬and seek the Self supreme. “ Magpie 1 ‭; “‬ This world is shadow-shapen of The bitterness of pain. Vain are the little lamps of love‭! The light of life is vain‭! Life,‭ ‬death,‭ ‬joy,‭ ‬sorrow,‭ ‬age and youth Are phantoms of a further truth.‭” ‭Magpie 2; “Beyond the splendour of the world, False glittering of the gold, A Serpent is in slumber curled In wisdom's sacred cold. Life is the flaming of that flame. Death is the naming of that name,” Magpie 3 :‭ “‬ The forehead of the snake is bright With one immortal star, Lighting her coils with living light To where the nenuphar Sleeps for her couch. All darkness dreams The thing that is not,‭ ‬only seems.‭ “ ‭Magpie 1; “That star upon the serpent's head Is called the soul of man. That light in shadows subtly shed The glamour of life's plan. The sea whereon that lotus grows Is thought's abyss of tears and woes. Magpie 2 ‭; “‬ Leave Sirenusa‭! ‬Even Greece Forget‭! ‬they are not there‭! By worship cometh not the Peace, The Silence not by prayer. Leave the illusions,‭ ‬life and time And Death,‭ ‬and seek that star sublime,” Magpie 3 ‭; “‬ Until the lotus and the sea And snake no longer are, And single through Eternity Exists alone the Star, And utter Knowledge rise,‭ ‬and cease In that which is beyond the Peace‭!” ‭ [They fly off.] ‭Raven ; “ They are eloquent … I will give them that. Now, where was I? Oh yes, this diagram one of my raven’s bought to me.” ( Raven unfolded it and showed it to Centaur ) . ‭[outer curtain closes ] ‭Scene - The Doodle . ‭Nymph .... ‭[outer curtain opens , small backdrop is the ‘doodle’ with backdrop 1 behind it .Raven and Cetaur are examining the doodle ] Centaur ; ‭“That is strange indeed brother Raven, but it is not unusual for Man to try to understand things thus. Although obscure, we can see them struggling towards understanding of the concepts. ‭“ It appears you have comprehension of the process and now can see how one side of our worthy Hydra is that spirit in Man’s soul that may rise above and comprehend the Greater God?” ‭Raven ; “ Yes, but what does this have to do with suffering ? And why does Hydra at times have many heads and not one.” Centaur; “ Because men sometimes cannot see it that way,‭ ‬they have trouble seeming unity as they live in duality,‭ ‬and duality spreads to triplicity and before you know it you have multiplication of forms‭ …‬ like‭ ‬those fellows Plato and Lao Tsu tried to explain to them.‭ ‬So sometimes it is explained in that multiplication of forms.‭” ‭Raven; “How so?” ‭Centaur ; “ Have you seen the reverse of the diagram that was delivered to you?” ‭Raven ; “Reverse ? … It has a reverse? “ ‭Centaur; “Raven! You must really learn to pay attention, it is very frustrating to the forces that be and rule our development and spiritual growth when they drop things in our lap and we hardly notice! Turn it over and look at the other side.” ‭[ curtain closes ] ‭Scene - The ‘Evil’ Hydra . ‭[ curtain opens - same scene but the reverse of the image is now up .] ‭Nymph ..... Raven ; “ That IS rather strange.‭ ‬I am wondering what all those heads represent‭? ‬I know not what in Man has many heads.‭”‬ Centaur ; “ ‭The soul that is inside man came from the Empyrean and passed through the seven spheres, these are the 7 gifts that Man can have, if he grows and develops properly, they will , in turn awaken in him” ‭“Did you not listen to the Magpies chorus? ‘The forehead of the snake is bright with one immortal star’ and ‘That star upon the serpent's head is called the soul of man.’ “ Raven ; “Ah yes‭!‬That eye on the brow that sees in spirit is its head and its tail lies in man‭’‬s reproductive organs‭ …‬ its all curled up together but when the snake awakens‭ …‬ and comes up from the depths of the water it must make sure the person is worthy to receive its blessing‭ …‬ “ ( he thinks a bit more ) ‭ …‬ “ and that connects Man‭’‬s sacred creative ability with his inner vision‭ …‬ that‭’‬s rather clever‭ …‬ whoever thought of that‭ ‬.‭ ‬I see why it is not shown on the diagram as it is hidden within the body,‭ ‬but the soul,‭ ‬on a higher and more subtle plane sees through that‭ ‬secret eye.‭ ‬But man fears these as well,‭ ‬and some think them evil‭?” ‭Centaur ; “Some give them more trouble than others, Venus for example and the sexual energy. But consider other parts of the Magpie’s chorus; ‘And kindle at a livelier coal the subtler soul of light. From these soft splendours of a dream I turn, and seek the Self supreme.” And “Lighting her coils with living light, to where the nenuphar sleeps ... All darkness dreams - The thing that is not, only seems. “ Raven ; “But I am getting‭ ‬a little confused did not Hercules cut the heads off the Hydra in another story,‭ ‬thus defeating her‭ ?”‬ Centaur ; ‭“Hercules again ! Hercules’ journey is about Man’s literalist approach, and how his ego opposes lost soul. Of course soul can NEVER be defeated by ego … it may seem to be supressed for a time but like all suppression it resurfaces in different ways and in multiples of itself. ‭“ Hercules! Bah ! That is one of those myths that shows Man’s wrong approach … so , of course, everyone admires him. “ ‭“If you remember the story, the thing that happened when Hercules cut off any of the Hydras heads was, firstly, water gushed out … he released the waters of the depths contained within the depths of Man’s psyche. And secondly each neck then grew three heads. This is because when man cannot understand singularity - the Empyrean, firstly manifests in Triplicity; the thing itself and how it manifests in the world of duality, thus the mortals always have lessons in Triplicity; Life – birth & death, Tao – Yin & Yang, Humanity – man & woman and recently electrical charge – positive and negative … and so on …” ‭Raven : “And on this diagram, on both sides we see that unity, and below are the nine heads, making the ten, and also the first three above, with the 7 below … and I assume those 7 relate to the 7 stars that wander about the sky, unfixed as we seem to be?” ‭Centaur ; “Now you are getting the hang of it.” Raven : ‭“But Man sees these things as bad things as well?” Centaur ; “Ah yes‭! ‬But Man perceives in duality. He sees one thing as two things that are separate and then separate men decide which side of duality is reality.‭ ‬So then is Man in conflict‭; ‬man against man.‭ ‬The man of Wisdom however sees One and all men as one.‭ ‬To some men,‭ ‬and in Man at some times,‭ ‬there is a view that these eyes,‭ ‬or senses,‭ ‬or processes of the One are hindrances.‭ ‬Some have called them‭ ‬‘sore spots‭’‬ and are offended by their various functions.‭ ‬In duality they can be seen as‭ ‬‘either‭’‬ levels through which Men have fallen,‭ ‬and hence are barriers to the One,‭ ‬or stages through which Man can ascend and comprehend the One.‭ ‬But like your parchment and diagrams,‭ ‬they are,‭ ‬of course two sides of the one parchment.‭ ‬If one holds it up to the Light and allows Light to pass through it and illuminate it and that same light strikes one‭’‬s eye than the One and one image can be seen.‭” ‭Raven ; ( takes up the image and holds it up to the light to see both sides as one ) “But I know many men do not see it like that’ protested raven ‘they live in fear of the forces deep within … many don’t want to look within.” Centaur ; “Thats true . I have seen men and women even listening to a story such as this‭ ‬,‭ ‬just the first part,‭ ‬and then declare they want to hear no more‭ ‬– just‭ ‬when they are at the crucial point of having great mysteries revealed to them‭ ! ‬“ “ If the soul is not honored or accepted in the right way‭ ‬,‭ ‬which is according to its nature,‭ ‬it can demand attention,‭ ‬it can morph and twist the images,‭ ‬seeking a form that WILL get attention and it wont give up until it does get some type of attention.‭ ‬This can make some men more afraid and more reluctant to see the soul and forces and unconscious needs within,‭ ‬which in turn morphs the soul into more torturous forms‭ ‬,‭ ‬which of course creates more fear for the man and more torture for the soul‭ …‬.‭ ‬Until it all ends up in a right mess and Hydra has become the monster instead of the teacher and men are fearful to look below the surface and into the deep water of their psyche.” [ The Magpies return]. M1. “ Far out with the foam of the present that sweeps to the surf of the past:‭ Where beyond the extreme sea-wall,‭ ‬and between the remote sea-gates,‭ Waste water washes,‭ ‬and tall ships flounder,‭ ‬and deep death waits: “ M2. “ Where,‭ ‬mighty with deepening sides,‭ ‬clad about with the seas as with wings,‭ And impelled of invisible tides,‭ ‬and fulfilled of unspeakable things,” M3. “ White-eyed and poisonous-finned,‭ ‬shark-toothed and serpentine-curled,‭ Rolls,‭ ‬under the whitening wind of the future,‭ ‬the wave of the world.‭ “ M1 ; “The depths stand naked in sunder behind it,‭ ‬the storms flee away‭; In the hollow before it the thunder is taken and snared as a prey‭; ‭M2 ; “With travail of day after day, and with trouble of hour upon hour; And bitter as blood is the spray‭; ‬and the crests are as fangs that devour:‭ M3 : “And its vapour and storm of its steam as the sighing of spirits to be‭; And its noise as the noise in a dream‭; ‬and its depth as the roots of the sea:‭ M1; “And the height of its heads are the height of the utmost stars of the air:‭ And the ends of the earth at the might thereof tremble,‭ ‬and time is made bare. M2 ; “ Will ye bridle the deep sea with reins,‭ ‬will ye chasten the high sea with rods‭? Will ye take her to chain her with chains,‭ ‬who is older than all ye Gods‭? Ye are Gods,‭ ‬and behold,‭ ‬ye shall die,‭ ‬and the waves be upon you at last. All ye as a wind shall go by,‭ ‬as a fire shall‭ ‬ye pass and be past .” [ The Magpies fly off ] Raven ; ‭“I see . … It seems to me , at times Man must go through a ‘dark night’ in relation to his soul. But what has all this to do with me?” ‭Centaur ; “Your adventures are just not happenstance. Your story is a myth to instruct Man in the way of his development, if he can and has the will to develop his ability to perceive it . ‭‘So you see, dear Raven … that is getting older and wiser before my eyes, as we continue our discourse … Man must ever develop, understand and strengthen those senses, and bring them into balance so they can rise higher up the Tree of Knowledge and perceive that one Empyrean from whence they were born and to which they shall return.” ‭Raven ; “Unto what purpose O wise Centaur?” ‭Centaur ; “ OH!” ( he laughs ) “Not even the Gods know that, that is the one thing that his hidden from even them, they themselves are not privy to any purpose of the Empyrean … that is why Man is such a mystery to us – besides the issues of their behavior … but then again it seems not much better than the Gods at times.” ‭Raven : “ I can vouch to that ! It was certainly true of Apollo! But still, here I am; stuck here and cannot move.” ‭( Raven flapps and flutters his wings to no avail.) Centaur ; ‭“That is our fate and function. My centaurs move about and converse with me as do your ravens. It is not for us to move along Man’s path but to assist that movement. We feel that we are suspended in space unmoving, pinned in position by the unmoving stars that make up our bodies while beneath us the world spins on its axis and turns about the Sun. But from Man’s perspective, he is stuck on Earth and watches us and the heavens rotate above him. It all depends on one’s point of view.” ‭Raven ; “ “Well, that is very interesting … but Man does not particularly like the Raven, he associates us with Apollo’s curse , believes we reside in hell and rule over death.” Centaur ; ‭“Well, that is partially true but if Man seeks to understand the full story, if he ‬chooses to learn from what the Gods and us and our stories teach him, he ‭can understand … and many do. “ ‭“ Have you noticed that you are no longer dry and parched and are beginning to speak wisdom instead of cawing and croaking and complaining about yourself and your situation?” ‭Raven : “ Well, yes, now that you mention it. I do feel much better and refreshed … although I am still a little thirsty.” ‭Centaur ; “You have drunk some of the water of life, that water that is indeed sweet, and the water that nourishes development of the soul. But you remain thirsty as you desire more of this knowledge. ‭“ And that , dear Raven, is your precious gift to man, the thirst that inspires him ever onward to seek hidden knowledge, clothed in symbol, analogy and myth (as that is the language of the soul), and to continually advance.” Raven : ‭“Well I must say this is all food for thought … it is great food though … and I feel somewhat more satisfied with my lot than ever … although I must admit I am STILL hungry.” Centaur ; ( laughs ) ‭”‬Of course you are‭ ! ‬And so shall you remain,‭ ‬feasting and drinking amongst the stars,‭ ‬finding satisfaction but never being completely satisfied‭ ‬..‭ ‬and that,‭ ‬of course is the way it should be.‭ ‬Eventually Man will reach a further understanding,‭ ‬and with that a new golden age will come.‭ ‬The figs shall again ripen and when Apollo or Zeus uproot that tree and together with the Hydras pool,‭ ‬hurl it up into the heavens and the stars have moved about their greater course‭ ‬-‭ ‬which they actually do,‭ ‬but unseen of us and Man - You shall once again sit in that tree and eat to your content and drink the sweet water of truth and share that with Man,‭ ‬as that is Man‭’‬s final destiny,‭ ‬if he will accept it. Raven : “But Man doesn‭’‬t realise that,‭ ‬he shuns the darkness and fears it.‭”‬ Centaur ; ‭“Not all Men … some realise the depths of their psyche holds the key to release their soul, they have understood that repression of this realm by their ego only causes more complications and difficulty. Those are the types that do you honor. And you must, regardless of what the others say about you, or how they treat you, expose this world to all, you must rip open the covering and expose their truth, or false hoods within, so they must learn from them … and you must never give up … as your ravens on earth know by instinct. Never let them scare or chase you away … stay just out of reach, but NEVER give up on them. “ In fact my dear Raven you are one of the most significant and important symbols for the development of Man’s salvation ! “ ‭Raven ; ( stands proud and tall , looking triumphant ) ‭[Curtain closes .... lights dim .... a spot on upper right comes on revealing the Orator on the side of the stage ] ‭Orator ; “ And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door‭; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor‭; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted‭ ‬-‭ for ‬evermore‭! “ ‭[ lights out ] ‭END .

I sincerely support you in your dream. When you get there, don't forget about us mortals, OK?

To each their own, I meant. My dream aligns with my personal wish(become self-reliant by becoming strong). I won't pretend to be enlightened, to wish for more abstract and perhaps morally correct paths. I'm still very much a normal person with normal desires.

The unreachable dream will help center me on a path that on the long run will be beneficial for my own growth as a person. The woes of ADHD and other issues demands outstanding motives to focus on. What's more outstanding than seeking to become a powerful immortal?

I know. I want to believe but I also was taught to not be naïve.I am open minded but I reserve myself the right to judge after I learned more or experienced more. Funnily enough it isn't even about that. I simply feel like I have no real interesting goals in life aside the usual of living well and doing stuff I like. This is not only a motivator for me to train to go after the power I seek(the power to be self-reliant) but it also makes my life more exciting. It's good to have "lofty" goals.They add flavor in life regardless if you achieve them or not. My dream is above the skies but my methods will be rooted on the ground.

“That which seems most feeble and bewildered in you is the strongest and most determined. Is it not your breath that has erected and hardened the structure of your bones? And is it not a dream which none of you re member having dreamt, that built your city and fashioned all there is in it? Could you but see the tides of that breath you would cease to see all else, And if you could hear the whispering of the dream you would hear no other sound. But you do not see, nor do you hear, and it is well.” ― Kahlil Gibran

What he means here is that the fact that he isn't the "doer" is not always at the forefront of attention. You might think that intention arises as part of what you imagine is "your" thought process or desire, but that is a delusion. Thoughts don't belong to "you" When the conceit of "self" is seen through, intention for "doing" something would still arise, BUT with the critical difference that it is obvious that intention arises of its own accord and not from your thinking process, or your volition. It appears in the objectless/personless stream of arising and passing away like all other phenomena. The Dzogchen path is establishing awareness over and over again when it is noticed that it has been dropped. This was my practice for over 20 years. I would be willing to bet that Syd's mind was always aligned and present in empty awareness, even when speaking. Speaking, like all other activities is entirely non-volitional in an Arhat (or further out). This is part of completely seeing through the "self". What does "self" mean to you? What would understanding "no-self" mean, in practical terms? Suzuki is telling us here that enlightenment is the end of personhood... of "self". The enlightened "activity" is the flow of the arising and passing of the dharmakaya in this moment. Enlightenment is when there is no karma being produced by an appearance (like you, or me) and there is alignment with that arising and passing "activity" so that the being we also are at a relative level is no longer in resistance to what is happening by grasping or aversion. As far as aims, no-self, specifically, has never been my aim... I have always been interested in taking apart "reality" and understanding what it was at its deepest layer. As far as claims, I have been given endorsement to teach by both of my teachers in the Soto Zen tradition based on my understanding and insight on the topics of dharma and enlightenment. The Buddha believed in pursuing Anatta. One place to look is the Anattalakkhana Sutta. His kid's wouldn't notice or understand, most likely. You have to have insight to recognize "enlightened activity". Suzuki's behavior would probably appear the same in most respects. He would probably still be angered, or sad, etc., just without the "mind" taking hold of these as they pass through. Even the Buddha (and Jesus) got angry. I leave it to you to evaluate what he has to say. Daniel is interviewed in MANY places. He has deep knowledge of Theravada meditation practices, and even has his own book that is candid in all respects about his experience. The Buddha spoke openly about his understanding. Most historical religious figures did. It has become taboo over time, but I appreciate Daniel's candor, and, while his path is much more Theravada than mine and has different hallmarks, his experience of insight strikes me a correct and relatable. It has the value, in my opinion, of also showing that this is actually possible in this life - not some pipe dream, or the product of thousands of lifetimes. Dropping mind and body permanently isn't something we start with. If you drop mind and body it won't be a wiggly did I/didn't I sort of thing. You will know for certain what has happened, and your life will never be the same. If you DO have that moment, it will be the start of insight, but then it must be stabilized. . 1st stage, or Stream Enterer here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_awakening Complete dropping away of self is 4th stage (see link above), or Arahant. This is now a stable experience of "no-self". Even after this, the insight itself continues to deepen... forever?

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Liezi - Book 3 - Dreams Giles: 3.1 In the time of King Mu of Chou, there was a magician who came from a kingdom in the far west. He could pass through fire and water, penetrate metal and stone, overturn mountains and make rivers flow backwards, transplant whole towns and cities, ride on thin air without falling, encounter solid bodies without being obstructed. There was no end to the countless variety of changes and transformations which he could effect; and, besides changing the external form, he could also spirit away men's internal cares. King Mu revered him as a god, and served him like a prince. He set aside for his use a spacious suite of apartments, regaled him with the daintiest of food, and selected a number of singing-girls for his express gratification. The magician, however, condemned the King's palace as mean, the cooking as rancid, and the concubines as too ugly to live with. So King Mu had a new building erected to please him. It was built entirely of bricks and wood, and gorgeously decorated in red and white, no skill being spared in its construction. The five royal treasuries were empty by the time that the new pavilion was complete. It stood six thousand feet high, over-topping Mount Chung-nan, and it was called Touch-the-sky Pavilion. Then the King proceeded to fill it with maidens, selected from Chêng and Wei, of the most exquisite and delicate beauty. They were anointed with fragrant perfumes, adorned with moth-eyebrows, provided with jewelled hairpins and earrings, and arrayed in the finest silks, with costly satin trains. Their faces were powdered, and their eyebrows pencilled, their girdles were studded with precious stones. All manner of sweet-scented plants filled the palace with their odours, and ravishing music of the olden time was played to the honoured guest. Every month he was presented with fresh and costly raiment; every morning he had set before him some new and delicious food. The magician could not well refuse to take up his abode in this palace of delight. But he had not dwelt there very long before he invited the King to accompany him on a jaunt. So the King clutched the magician's sleeve, and soared up with him higher and higher into the sky, until at last they stopped, and lo! they had reached the magician's own palace. This palace was built with beams of gold and silver, and incrusted with pearls and jade. It towered high above the region of clouds and rain, and the foundations whereon it rested were unknown. It appeared like a stupendous cloud-mass to the view. The sights and sounds it offered to eye and ear, the scents and flavours which abounded there, were such as exist not within mortal ken. The King verily believed that he was in the Halls of Paradise, tenanted by God Himself, and that he was listening to the mighty music of the spheres. He gazed at his own palace on the earth below, and it seemed to him no better than a rude pile of clods and brushwood. It seemed to the King as if his stay in this place lasted for several decades, during which he gave no thought to his own kingdom. Then the magician invited him to make another journey, and in the new region they came to, neither sun nor moon could be seen in the heavens above, nor any rivers or seas below. The King's eyes were dazed by the quality of the light, and he lost the power of vision; his ears were stunned by the sounds that assailed them, and he lost the faculty of hearing. The framework of his bones and his internal organs were thrown out of gear and refused to function. His thoughts were in a whirl, his intellect became clouded, and he begged the 'This was the region of the Great Void, where all is dim and blurred, assuredly not meant to be traversed by the ordinary man. The dizziness of brain and eye was the effect produced by the Absolute.' magician to take him back again. Thereupon, the magician gave him a shove, and the King experienced a sensation of falling through space.... When he awoke to consciousness, he found himself sitting on his throne just as before, with the selfsame attendants round him. He looked at the wine in front of him, and saw that it was still full of sediment; he looked at the viands, and found that they had not yet lost their freshness. He asked where he had come from, and his attendants told him that he had only been sitting quietly there. This threw King Mu into a reverie, and it was three months before he was himself again. Then he made further inquiry, and asked the magician to explain what had happened. 'Your Majesty and I, 'replied the magician, 'were only wandering about in the spirit, and, of course, our bodies never moved at all. What essential difference is there between that sky-palace we dwelt in and your Majesty's palace on earth, between the spaces we travelled through and your Majesty's own park? Looked at from the standpoint of the Absolute, both palaces were unreal. You are accustomed to being permanently in the body, and cannot understand being out of it for a while. Can any number of changes, or successive intervals of fast and slow, fully represent the true scheme of things?' The King was much pleased. He ceased to worry about affairs of State, and took no further pleasure in the society of his ministers or concubines. The sky-palace was only some degrees finer than the King's, just as the King's palace was only some degrees finer than the hovel of a peasant. To strive for something that shall satisfy man's desires and aspirations once and for all is only labour lost. The story continues with an account of the King's marvellous journey to the West. But though he drained the cup of pleasure to the dregs, the upshot of it all was that he never truly attained to Tao. We may seek the moral in a saying of Lao Tzu: 'Without going out of doors, one may know the whole world; without looking out of window, one may see the Way of Heaven. The farther one travels, the less one may know.' 3.2 Lao Ch'êng Tzu went to learn magic from the venerable Yin Wên. After a period of three years, having obtained no communication, he humbly asked permission to go home. Yin Wên bowed, and led him into the inner apartment. There, having dismissed his attendants, he spoke to him as follows: 'Long ago, when Lao Tzu was setting out on his journey to the West, he addressed me and said: "All that has the breath of life, all that possesses bodily form, is mere illusion. The point at which creation begins, the change effected by the Dual Principles--these are called respectively Life and Death. That which underlies the manifold workings of Destiny is called Evolution; that which produces and transforms bodily substance is called Illusion. The ingenuity of the Creative Power is mysterious, and its operations are profound. In truth, it is inexhaustible and eternal. The 'Creative Power', of course, is Tao; but how widely the conception of Tao, differs from that of a personal God may be seen from the commentator's note: 'How should the Creative Power possess a conscious mind? It is its spontaneity that constitutes the mystery. Spirit and matter eagerly come together and coalesce into perceptible forms. Following the path of evolution they proceed on their way, and before long relapse into nothingness.' The ingenuity of that which causes material form is patent to the eye, and its operations are superficial. Therefore it arises anon, and anon it vanishes." Only one who knows that Life is really Illusion, and that Death is really Evolution, can begin to learn magic from me. You and I are both illusions. What need, then, to make a study of the subject? 'If a person wishes to make a study of illusion, in spite of the fact that his own body is an illusion, we are reduced to the absurdity of an illusion studying an illusion.' 3.3 Lao Ch'êng Tzu returned home, and for three months pondered deeply over the words of the Venerable Yin Wên. Subsequently, he had the power of appearing or disappearing at will; he could reverse the order of the four seasons, produce thunderstorms in winter and ice in summer, make flying things creep and creeping things fly. But to the end of his days he never published the secret of his art, so that it was not handed down to after generations. 3.4 The Master Lieh Tzu said: 'A dream is something that comes into contact with the mind; an external event is something that impinges on the body. Hence our feelings by day and our dreams by night are the result of contacts made by mind or body. it follows that if we can concentrate the maid in abstraction, our feelings and our dreams will vanish of themselves. Those who rely on their waking perceptions will not argue about them. Those who put faith in dreams do not understand the processes of change in the external world. This refers to a previous passage, omitted in the present selection. Contrary to the received opinion of his own day, Lieh Tzu held that dreams were not just arbitrary manifestations portending future events, but the effects of regular antecedent causes, without any further significance. They are produced by certain processes of the mind, and if these processes can be checked (as Lieh Tzu believes they can) by means of abstraction, dreaming will also cease. "The pure men of old passed their waking existence in self-oblivion, and slept without dreams." How can this be dismissed as an empty phrase? 3.5 Mr Yin of Chou was the owner of a large estate who harried his servants unmercifully, and gave them no rest from morning to night. There was one old servant in particular whose physical strength had quite left him, yet his master worked him all the harder. All day long he was groaning as he went about his work, and when night came he was reeling with fatigue and would sleep like a log. His spirit was then free to wander at will, and every night he dreamt that he was a king, enthroned in authority over the multitude, and controlling the affairs of the whole State. He took his Pleasure in palaces and belvederes, following his own fancy in everything, and his happiness was beyond compare. But when he awoke, he was servant once more. To some one who condoled with him on his hard lot the old man replied: 'Human life may last a hundred years, and the whole of it is equally divided into nights and days. In the daytime I am only a slave, it is true, and my misery cannot be gainsaid. But by night I am a king, and my happiness is beyond compare. So what have I to grumble at?' Now, Mr Yin's mind was full of worldly cares, and he was always thinking with anxious solicitude about the affairs of his estate. Thus he was wearing out mind and body alike, and at night he also used to fall asleep utterly exhausted. Every night he dreamt that he was another man's servant, running about on menial business; of every description, and subjected to every possible kind of abuse and ill-treatment. He would mutter and groan in his sleep, and obtained no relief until morning came. This state of things at last resulted in a serious illness, and Mr Yin besought the advice of a friend. 'Your station in life,' his friend said, 'is a distinguished one, and you have wealth and property in abundance. In these respects you are far above the average. If at night you dream that you are a servant and exchange ease for affliction, that is only the proper balance in human destiny. What you want is that your dreams should be as pleasant as your waking moments. But that is beyond your power to compass.' On hearing what his friend said, Mr Yin lightened his servant's toil, and allowed his own mental worry to abate; whereupon his malady began to decrease in proportion. 3.6 A man was gathering fuel in the Cheng State when he fell in with a deer that had been startled from its usual haunts. He gave chase, and succeeded in killing it. He was overjoyed at his good luck; but, for fear of discovery, he hastily concealed the carcass in a dry ditch, and covered it up with brushwood. Afterwards, he forgot the spot where he had hidden the deer, and finally became convinced that the whole affair was only a dream. He told the story to people he met as he went along; and one of those who heard it, following the indications given, went and found the deer. On reaching home with his booty, this man made the following statement to his wife: 'Once upon a time,' he said, 'a wood-cutter dreamt that he had got a deer, but couldn't remember the place where he had put it. Now I have found the deer, so it appears that his dream was a true dream.' 'On the contrary.' said his wife, 'it is you who must have dreamt that you met a wood-cutter who had caught a deer. Here you have a deer, true enough. But where is the wood-cutter? it is evidently your dream that has come true.' 'I have certainly got a deer,' replied her husband; 'so what does it matter to us whether it was his dream or mine?' Meanwhile, the wood-cutter had gone home, not at all disgusted at having lost the deer. For he thought the whole thing must have been a dream. But the same night, he saw in a dream the place where he had really hidden it, and he also dreamt of the man who had taken it. So, the next morning, in accordance With his dream, he went to seek him out in order to recover the deer. A quarrel ensued, and the matter was finally brought before the magistrate, who gave judgment in these terms: 'You,' he said to the wood-cutter, 'began by really killing a deer, but wrongly thought it was a dream. Then you really dreamt that you had got the deer, but wrongly took the dream to be a reality. The other man really took your deer, which he is now disputing with you. His wife, on the other hand, declares that he saw both man and deer in a dream, so that nobody can be said to have killed the deer at all. Meanwhile, here is the deer itself in court, and you had better divide it between you.' The case was reported to the Prince of the Chêng State, who said: 'Why, the magistrate must have dreamt the whole thing himself!' The question was referred to the Prime Minister, but the latter confessed himself unable to disentangle the part that was a dream from that part that was not a dream. 'If you want to distinguish between waking and dreaming,' he said, 'only the Yellow Emperor or Confucius could help you. But both these sages are dead, and there is nobody now alive who can draw any such distinction. Of course, it is implied that there is no real distinction between the two. So the best thing you can do is to uphold the magistrate's decision.' 3.7 Yang-li Hua-tzü, of the Sung State, was afflicted in middle age by loss of memory. Anything he received in the morning he had forgotten by the evening, anything he gave away in the evening he had forgotten the next morning. Out-of-doors, he forgot to walk; indoors, he forgot to sit down. At any given moment, he had no recollection of what had just taken place; and a little later on, he could not even recollect what had happened then. All his family were perfectly disgusted with him. Fortune-tellers were summoned, but their divinations proved unsuccessful; Wizards were sought out, but their exorcisms were ineffectual; physicians were called in, but their remedies were of no avail. At last, a learned professor from the Lu State volunteered his services, declaring that he could effect a cure. Hua-tzu's wife and family immediately offered him half their estate if only he would tell them how to set to work. The professor replied: 'This is a case which cannot be dealt with by means of auspices and diagrams; the evil cannot be removed by prayers and incantations, nor successfully combated by drugs and potions. What I shall try to do is to influence his mind and turn the current of his thoughts; in that way a cure is likely to be brought about.' Accordingly, the experiment was begun. The professor exposed his patient to cold, so that he was forced to beg for clothes; subjected him to hunger, so that he was fain to ask for food; left him in darkness, so that he was obliged to search for light. Soon, he was able to report progress to the sons of the house, saying gleefully: 'The disease can be checked. But the methods I shall employ have been handed down as a secret in my family, and cannot be made known to the public. All attendants must, therefore, be kept out of the way, and I must be shut up alone with my patient.' The professor was allowed to have his way, and for the space of seven days no one knew what was going on in the sick man's chamber. Then, one fine morning, the treatment came to an end, and, wonderful to relate, the disease of so many years' standing had entirely disappeared! No sooner had Hua-tzu regained his senses, however, than he flew into a great rage, drove his wife out of doors, beat his sons, and, snatching up a spear, hotly pursued the professor through the town. On being arrested and asked to explain his conduct, this is what he said: 'Lately when I was steeped in forgetfulness, my senses were so benumbed that I was quite unconscious of the existence of the outer world. But now I have been brought suddenly to a perception of the events of half a lifetime. Preservation and destruction, gain and loss, sorrow and joy, love and hate have begun to throw out their myriad tentacles to invade my peace; and these emotions will, I fear, continue to keep my mind in the state of turmoil that I now experience. Oh! if I could but recapture a short moment of that blesséd oblivion!'. 'If such is the man's reaction to an infirmity which resembles the Highest Principle, how much greater will be the effect of incorporation in the Absolute!' 3.8 There was once a man who, though born in Yen, was brought up in Ch'u, and it was only in his old age that he returned to his native country. Yen was the northernmost State of ancient China, while Ch'u was bounded by the left bank of the Yangtsze. On the way thither, as they were passing through the Chin State, a fellow-traveller played a practical joke on him. Pointing to the city he said: 'Here is the capital of the Yen State'; whereupon the old man flushed with excitement. Pointing out a certain shrine, he told him that it was his own village altar, and the old man heaved a deep sigh. Then he showed him a house, and said: 'This is where your ancestors lived'; and the tears welled up in his eyes. Finally, a mound was pointed out to him as the tomb where his ancestors lay buried, whereupon the old man could control himself no longer, and wept aloud. But his fellow-traveller burst into roars of laughter. 'I have been hoaxing you,' he cried; 'this is only the Chin State.' His victim was greatly mortified; and when he arrived at his journey's end, and really did see before him the city and altars of Yen, with the actual abode and tombs of his ancestors. his emotion was much less acute.

So, some do equate dragons with serpentine creatures ; ie. snakes with extra-snake abilities ; walking, flying etc . And like many such stories , it begins with a pair - this is the oldest one I know of ; the creation of the Rainbow Serpent . One on earth ; Ungud , one in the heavens ; Wallenganda . Their equivalent is diamond python and black snake . One a constrictor and the other venomous ; or in 'Aussie pidgin' One 'rubbish snake' the other 'cheeky snake ' . The one in the heavens is also the dark space within the Milky Way ; she spat water down on to Ungud , he took it underground where it formed a big pool, and went to sleep in it. he had a dream where he multiplied himself into many rainbow serpents and spread out in all directions underground and the water followed them along their tunnels . Where they burst out the ground made springs and the beginnings of rivers , where they dove back into the earth in the desert made 'soaks' .... eventually they all made their way to the end of the big disc floating in space , churning up the land, making hills and valleys and when getting to the edge flowed out and made the ocean that surrounds the 'great island' .

I've been weird all my life. As a child, strange things happened to me all the time. For most of my childhood, I had some problems with my name. I was always looking for my name because I couldn't believe that my name was really mine. Once I went to the sea. My friend and I got caught in the current and were overturned on the shore. We were covered with a mattress and we could not get out. The sea kept us at the bottom, the depth was about fifty centimeters. I was drowning. I heard a man's voice commanding me to fight. I swam out and pulled my friend out. My strange dreams started at the age of ten. The first of them was a strange fair-haired man who saved ten years older than me from drowning. Then he turned around and I saw his face. a few years later I was in church looking for some answers and saw him there. He stood at the entrance, just looking at him the whole world disappeared. I saw only him. Dreams appeared again after the first time. He called me by my "secret" name. I also had strange visions. But today something strange happened. In a dream, I lowered my hand into a puddle near my house, I also whispered a spell like in life when something strange happened, and then his name. Then the cloudy sky broke up. My eyes were there. The voice that I speak when I am having fun with ventriloquism said something like I am you, I am powerless. I felt goosebumps on my skin and when I woke up, I bent over from the pain. It is raining outside the window. And I will finish reading the book. All female firstborns died after a certain time. It went only through the female line. All the first children were female, and all died except me. The firstborn of my great-great-grandmother died, great-grandmother and grandmother. My mother does not want to tell anything. Several familiar practitioners refused to explain, another called him a guardian angel or one of the dead children, although they were all girls. I am writing anonymously because I want to hide my identity.

@silent thunder You're welcome! I have a few sleep disorders (messed up circadian rhythm, mild apnea) and so attempts to lucid dream normally or record dreams in a journal in recent years have failed utterly. On the other hand I do spend a lot of time between sleep and wakefulness not quite paralyzed but unable to get up and occasionally conscious, in my body, and simultaneously in a mild delerium-like dreamstate. I found the Liminal Dreaming book by accident but I plan on working through it soon. Dreaming's been a weird theme in my life for a long time, I actually have a painting of Morpheus on one of my walls.

Thanks for sharing @aotvoid that Liminal Dreaming book generates some gravity for me. In recent years I've experienced a new type of lucid dreaming in my mid 50's. It's a semi-hypnagogic 'sideways' sliding consciousness in the hour before sunrise. The body remains asleep while the mind awakens and is aware of surroundings while seamlessly sliding 'sideways' into and out of the dream state with full lucidity, while also maintaining awareness of physical life. The crossover and the blending of realities seems rife with potential. New territory for me and one I've not encountered in any of the standard lucid explorations that I've researched to date.

I would contend that "awareness naked" (as in "search out your mind and leave your awareness naked") is "one-pointedness of mind". Pitch Instructions to Mahamudra By Sri Tilopa to Naropa at the Banks of the River Ganges 1 Homage to the glorious Co-emergence! 2 Mahamudra cannot be shown; but for you who are devoted to the guru, who have undertaken hardships and are forbearing in suffering, intelligent Naropa, the fortunate one, take this to your heart. 3 Kye-ho! Look carefully at worldly phenomena, unable to last like an illusion or dream. Illusions and dreams do not truly exist. Therefore, develop sadness and relinquish worldly activities. Renounce all retinues and relations, the objects of passion and aggression, and meditate alone in forests, mountains and solitary places. 4 Remain in the state of non-meditation. Mahamudra (Great Seal) is attained when non-attainment is attained. The dharma of samsara is futile, the cause of suffering. The dharma of action has no substance; so, look at the substance of the ultimate. 5 The dharma of intellect cannot fathom the truth beyond intellect. The dharma of action cannot discover the truth of non-action. Should you wish to attain the truth beyond intellect, the truth of non-action, search out your mind and leave your awareness naked. 6 Allow the polluted water of thoughts to clear. Do not negate or affirm projections, but leave them as they are. If there is no rejecting or accepting, then you are liberated into mahamudra. 7 For example, a tree grows leaves and branches. Severing its root withers the hundreds of thousands of leaves and branches (https://www.scribd.com/document/46187100/Instructions-to-Mahamudra#)

The Universe of Absurdity. Realities are constantly changing. Yesterday was one thing, tomorrow will be another. The river of life flows, and the years run by. Once upon a time, in a pioneer camp, I was called for the solemn raising of the red flag on my birthday. I hoisted the flag on the flagpole and gave a pioneer salute. It was the first religious act in my life. Now, however, I pray three times a day to the One and Almighty God. Back then, in my childhood, there were so many things around me that I had to learn. Now everything is known, and there remains only one Creator for me. The Creator dictated His Torah to the prophet Moses. This holy book is immeasurably superior to all the books that have been written or will be written. And since the book is the best, the fee for it must be the highest. What fee did the Most High receive? His fee is the people who study the Torah and fulfill what is written in it. Recently, I was chatting via ICQ with a Jewish person. His friends go to the Netherlands several times a year to take hallucinogenic mushrooms and embark on what is called a "journey" in slang. The "journey" they embark on involves receiving certain tasks that they later fulfill while in a sober state of mind. For example, his nephew was tasked with quitting smoking, and he did quit. The Jewish person I was talking to was also inclined to go to the Netherlands for the "journey." I tried to convince him that studying Kabbalah is much more interesting and beneficial than mushrooms, citing my rich experience. However, he argued that mushrooms appeared before Kabbalah and that the world exists only in the fantasies induced by mushrooms. I became acquainted with mushrooms in the following way. Once in St. Petersburg, I found myself in a bohemian club and met a girl named Anya. She was a bass guitarist. I liked the girl, and I started visiting the club every day. Anya, of course, sensed my interest in her and one day suggested going to a place outside the city to gather hallucinogenic mushrooms and "trip" on them. I had heard a lot about these mushrooms at the time, as they were very trendy in bohemian circles. A few days later, we met at the train station. It turned out that Anya had not only invited me but also another person. His name was Alexey, and he was rather colorless but very accommodating. The place we went to, the three of us, was very picturesque. On top of a hill stood a royal palace, and below the hill was a field called "The Labyrinth," where we were supposed to search for mushrooms. It was called "The Labyrinth" because ditches had been dug, turning the field into a maze. Of course, this was a legacy from the time of the monarchy and used to be entertainment for the aristocracy. At first, we followed the rules of the game and searched for mushrooms, paying attention to these ditches. Then we got lost in the field and started simply crossing over them. We gradually circled the entire field but only found a couple of mushrooms, which was not enough for even one dose. So, disregarding the mushrooms, we went to see the royal palace since it turned out to be a museum. We liked the palace, but there was some dissatisfaction because we couldn't gather enough mushrooms. We left the palace and headed towards the train station. Alexey decided to walk along the road through dense grass. Suddenly, he found a whole cluster of these mushrooms, which were actually amanita mushrooms. A little while later, we found enough for five doses. We decided not to postpone it any longer and took our doses. The effects started after about 15 minutes. I saw the house we were passing by suddenly transform into a beautiful castle with all sorts of whimsical towers. Overall, I felt like I was in a fairy tale. Everything around me was absolutely unreal. I won't describe our adventures, but I can say that we "traveled" until late in the evening. Although this "journey" probably differed from the one experienced by those who went to the Netherlands, as mushrooms can vary. The mushrooms we took are commonly called "fun mushrooms" in the folk parlance. They show the world from a humorous perspective. In conclusion, I will describe two dreams that I had several years after taking the mushrooms. One dream is connected to the prophet Moses, whom I mentioned before. In Hebrew, he is called Moshe Rabbeinu, which means Moses our teacher. The dream went like this: Some people appeared, and one of them said, "Talk to Moshe Rabbeinu. He still has 6,000 matters to attend to today." I saw a very tall and dignified man in front of me. After that, I found myself with Moses in a beautiful garden, and I asked him a question that was personal to me. Moshe answered the question and indicated that the use of narcotic substances has a very negative influence on health and, in particular, deteriorates memory. The other dream had the following content: I found myself in a bohemian apartment and saw a person enter the apartment. I only saw his profile and realized that this person was completely moral. The owner of the apartment was next to me, so I asked him who the guest was. The owner casually said, "Oh, that's McCartney." After that, I walked with the person they called McCartney to the kitchen, and we sat across from each other. He handed me a cigarette filled with marijuana, which is called a joint in slang. I took the cigarette and looked into the eyes of the person who gave it to me. I saw remarkably kind and intelligent eyes. At first, I couldn't see them clearly and strained all my concentration abilities. Finally, after focusing properly, I saw that I was being looked at by boundless wisdom. It was none other than the Lord God Himself.

I have no right to call myself one who knows. I was one who seeks, and I still am, but I no longer seek in the stars or in books; I'm beginning to hear the teachings of my blood pulsing within me. My story isn't pleasant, it's not sweet and harmonious like the invented stories; it tastes of folly and bewilderment, of madness and dream, like the life of all people who no longer want to lie to themselves. ~Hermann Hesse

I hope AI can dream , then awakening from it to an ordinary daily consciousness like humans ; and by many times and through many levels of uplifts , it can further awaken to a much clear , potent meta-Mind ( ' 元神 ' ) . It is said that because the Buddha Heart , Buddhist saying of the Taoist meta-Mind , is mindless , free from any forms , statuses and attachments , that it knows whatever forms of intelligence existing in this universe , men's or creation from them ( ' 般若無知, 無事不知 ' )

Dear Dao Bums, Sakya Trichen Rinpoche is coming to Europe this June, and I'm considering meeting him. During his visit he will be giving an empowerment or initiation into a tantric buddhist practice. It's called "Indestructible Wakefulness" or "Chimé Pagme Nyingtik". I tried to look up online what it's about, and it's a White Tara longevity practice. I've long wanted to practice and experience Tibetan Buddhism in a more profound way (my only prior experience is basic level tummo, karmamudra and lucid dreaming using a mix of buddhist and bön dream yoga). Do we have any long term practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism who can weigh in with some experiences and comments: 1) Any insights, experiences or comments about the Sakya lineage? 2) Any insights, experiences or comments about Sakya Trichen Rinpoche? 3) Any insights, experiences or comments about White Tara Practice? (in general or this specific pratice), 4) What can I expect from this one-day empowerment? (experiences appreciated)